by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers closer situation was an interesting one to analyze at the beginning of the season.

The defending AL champions figured to have another strong team, which would generate plenty of wins -- and save opportunities. Closer Jose Valverde's playoff meltdown last season (nine earned runs in 2 2/3 innings) made the Tigers' decision not to re-sign him an easy one.

However, it also left them with no heir apparent. Flame-throwing prospect Bruce Rondon had control problems (nine walks in 12 1/3 innings) in spring training and was sent to the minors. Every other returning reliever had his flaws.

Now three-plus weeks into the regular season, Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced Tuesday that -- after an impressive showing in extended spring training and against low-A hitters -- a re-signed Valverde would be returning to the closer's role in Detroit.

The team is apparently satisfied that whatever mechanical issues that led to Valverde's struggles have been corrected. He'll join the team Wednesday as the Tigers are scheduled to host Kansas City.

Meanwhile, Rondon has found his control at Class AAA Toledo. He's pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings to start the season, with nine strikeouts and two walks. With Octavio Dotel going on the disabled list Tuesday, the Tigers promoted Rondon and will have him work in the sixth and seventh innings initially.

The Tigers are 9-9 with a closer committee in place -- one save each for Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke and Drew Smyly.

It seemed logical that the Tigers would eventually have Valverde OR Rondon closing for them -- and fantasy owners looking for cheap saves were likely tempted to speculate on one or the other. But now the Tigers will have BOTH of them in a revamped bullpen.

Despite a 3.78 ERA, Valverde did have 35 saves last season. However, his strikeout rate fell from 8.6 K/9 in 2011 to a career-low 6.3. He has the experience in the role, but Rondon, 22, is clearly the team's closer of the future.

Leyland will lean on the veteran, Valverde, to start. But it may only be a matter of time before we start seeing hitters start doing the same things they did to him in the playoffs. Coke may get some save chances if there are multiple left-handed hitters in the opposing lineup. But my hunch is Rondon will be the most valuable Tigers reliever over the balance of the season.

He'll need to make sure he maintains his control gains, but the upside of having a closer who also gets strikeouts is tough to pass up -- if you're in the business of prospecting for saves in the first place.

Think of it as a similar situation to the Los Angeles Dodgers' with incumbent closer Brandon League and strikeout machine setup man Kenley Jansen. League is the boring veteran who could provide a decent number of saves, but if you're looking for the big payoff of strikeouts in addition to potential saves, Jansen is the guy.